FltPlan launches free Android app

FltPlan has launched its free Android Go app designed as an alternative to the iPad which, until now, has been the primary device available for inflight usage.

FltPlan’s new redesigned FltPlan Go for Android is the mirror image of its iPad Go app, introduced earlier this year. The company points out that if you are familiar with the iPad Go app pilots can transition easily to the Android Go.

“The beauty of FltPlan is that you can keep and use both, an iPad and an Android,” said Ken Wilson, founder and president of FltPlan, the largest flight-planning service in North America. “We are giving people choices. You are not limited by being tied to one device.”

It also offers a variety of basemaps such as satellite, street, shaded relief, and topographic (with an Internet connection).

Users have the ability to track flights and access tools and calculators such as checklists, weight & balance, runway wind calculation, and temperature conversion.

FltPlan Go for Android features include streamlined interface for access to flight planning tools, moving maps for the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, and Central America, breadcrumbs on moving maps and approach plates, and geo-referenced approach charts and taxi charts for the U.S. and Canada.

Other features include the ability to download and save flight plans, NavLogs, and weather briefings for offline and in-flight use.

In addition, FltPlan Go for Android provides U.S. airport/facilities directory (AFD), Canadian flight supplement (CFS), helicopter routes, TAC charts, SUAs for offline use, FBO and airport information, including up-to-date fuel prices, document storage and multiple binders, annotations, scratchpad function, and downloadable world map. All these features will work online and offline.

Wilson said he already sees a pent up demand for something other than iPad from many of FltPlan’s 145,000 users.

“Pilots are looking for the increased flexibility, ability to update, and the lower costs, as much as 43%, that Android tablets offer,” he said.

Four years ago, FltPlan created the Legacy app to provide pilots with airport information and approach charts. The legacy app continued to add more features and functionality as pilots’ in-flight needs grew, according to company officials.

FltPlan developers determined, however, that in order to continue to add more capabilities it was better to start over with an improved platform and they developed the FltPlan Go concept.

Just like the Legacy app, FltPlan android Go is integrated with the FltPlan website for one-stop flight planning in one centralized user account, company officials note.

FltPlan’s current Legacy app will remain available for use and the company will continue to support and maintain it.

“The Go app concept is our new platform and that is where we are going to continue to grow,” Wilson said. “But people can still use the Legacy app if they want to.”

Wilson explained that what makes FltPlan’s Go iPad app and Go Android app so intriguing is that they are free.

“You can put as many devices as you want on the FltPlan.com program. Whatever device you have in your airplane, you can leave it there. No matter where you are, you know you have access to the same data across all platforms and not have to worry about a subscription for every device you use.

Since the service was born on the web, FltPlan’s servers save all flight planning information and user documents. Should a pilot’s mobile device become unavailable, the pilot is just one internet connection away from his data, he noted.FltPlan.com supports over 145,000 pilots with services ranging from flight plan filing, FBO/airport information, flight tracking, certified eAPIS submissions, SMS (IS-BAO and ACSF), runway analysis, weight and balance, eLogbook program, Mexican/Caribbean/Central America handling, Mexican and Cuban overflight services, pre-departure clearances, FAA-approved certified weather, and participation in the FAA’s CDM program.